Below are statements from Republican leaders following news of Rep. Tom DeLay's (R.-Tex.) decision to permanently step down as House majority leader.

All four of these GOP leaders have been mentioned as possible replacements for DeLay. The fact that all four have quickly reacted, on a Saturday afternoon nonetheless, might signal their desire to move up the GOP leadership ladder.

House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R.-Mo.), who is serving as acting majority leader:

"My good friend Tom DeLay has made a very difficult decision. In keeping with his long commitment to our majority and the ideas we represent, he has chosen to step aside from his leadership position. It is my firm belief that he will beat these baseless charges and will continue to be a strong, effective and committed leader in our efforts to protect our country, limit the scope of government, and win the battle of ideas.

"My thoughts are with Tom and Christine and their excellent staff. I know Tom's legacy as one of the most effective Republican leaders in history is assured."

Rep. John Boehner (R.-Ohio), chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce:

"Tom DeLay and I have had our differences over the years, but I can say without hesitation he is one of the most effective and gifted leaders the Republican Party has ever known. My heart goes out to Tom, Christine, and the DeLay family for all the pain they have endured. My belief is that Tom will eventually be cleared and exonerated, and my hope is that our Conference will one day again benefit from Tom's rare commitment to the principles of smaller government and freedom for which all Republicans fight."

"The time has come for the election of a new Majority Leader in the United States House of Representatives. As he has done so many times throughout his public career, Tom DeLay has put the interests of the Republican Congress ahead of his own personal interest in calling for this election.

"I join colleagues and supporters around the nation as we express our gratitude for a career of conservative leadership in Congress and the confident hope that he will continue to serve his district, his nation and the conservative cause for many years to come."

“Tom DeLay's decision to step down as majority leader today demonstrates the same brand of selfless devotion and unyielding dedication that we have to come to expect during Tom's tenure as our leader.

“Tom's staunch commitment to conservative principles has been the driving force in implementing our legislative agenda while his political tenacity has been paramount in our efforts to build a lasting House Republican majority.

"It has been a privilege to serve alongside Tom in the House Republican Leadership, and I look forward to working with him in the future to tend to the important work of addressing our nation's highest priorities."

Rep. Mike Pence, chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee: "... As he has done so many times throughout his public career, Tom DeLay has put the interests of the Republican Congress ahead of his own personal interest in calling for this election."

Republicans seem to have a strategy of sacrificing their own. I remember when Newt Gingrich was described as a "lightning-rod" for hate filled Democrats. It was considered best for the Republican party that he step down. Now where is he? It seems he has been reduced to taking potshots at Bush. To this day, I don't know anyone who can handle hostile questions from a dozen liberal reporters the way Newt could.

Should Republicans appease liberals? Perhaps when all we had was ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, and predominantly liberal print media, it made sense. Today, I think appeasement in response to liberal/Democratic attacks only invites more of the same.

I used to think Senator Joseph McCarthy was a blight on America. But I learned this from Democrats, some of whom called Joseph Stalin "Uncle Joe." I think Ann Coulter and a few others have done a great service in defending McCarthy. There was (is) sympathy for Communism in America. McCarthy told the truth when he said there were communist agents in the Federal Government.

Here's a litmus test question. Who would you prefer to call Uncle Joe? Joseph Stalin or Joseph McCarthy? When the majority of Americans get that right, we will have taken a big step forward. When a majority of Democrats get that right, they will deserve to be called patriotic. I like to apply a simple metric: millions of murders. Stalin murdered forty million. McCarthy murdered zero million. (Actually he murder no one, but it is best to count in millions to avoid a double standard.)

I'm glad Republicans are offering verbal support for DeLay. I wish they had insisted he hold onto the House Majority leader position. If nothing else, this would take some of heat off of Alito and Bush. As an added bonus. more Democrats would become unhinged.

7
posted on 01/08/2006 8:51:58 AM PST
by ChessExpert
(Liberals won the Vietnam war - for the Communists)

"I wish they had insisted he hold onto the House Majority leader position."

Too many are attempting to gain personally from the situation. This morning on Fox, Boehner already had a campaign planned out. He has been waiting and hoping for this instead of supporting the Party leadership, what is that all about?

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